Former Congressman Matt Gaetz Sued by Two Women Over Sex Trafficking Allegations
Two women have filed a federal lawsuit against former Rep. Matt Gaetz, alleging sexual exploitation and violations of federal anti-trafficking laws.
POLICY WIRE — Orlando, USA — Two women initiated a federal lawsuit on Thursday against former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, alleging they were subjected to sexual exploitation by the Florida Republican and other associates in violation of federal anti-trafficking statutes.
The legal action follows a 2024 House Ethics Committee report which concluded that Gaetz had engaged in the purchase of illicit sexual services, including an encounter with a 17-year-old, alongside allegations of drug use and state law violations during his tenure in Congress. Although Gaetz departed from office prior to the report’s publication and has consistently denied any wrongdoing, the findings were instrumental in the collapse of his nomination for attorney general during the second Trump administration.
According to the court filing, the plaintiffs were in their early twenties when they were introduced to Gaetz in 2017 by Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax official currently serving a prison sentence for multiple offenses, including sex crimes. The lawsuit claims that Gaetz facilitated the women’s exploitation by providing illicit substances and covering expenses for travel, lodging, and sexual services.
In a public statement, Gaetz dismissed the allegations, asserting, Much of the conduct alleged against me is false. He further stated, The lawsuit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee report that didn’t allow me to confront my accusers. Now I will finally have that chance.
The legal complaint also names Greenberg, an additional unidentified man, and several business entities associated with the Greenberg family. Attorney Spencer Kuvin, representing the plaintiffs, characterized the situation as an exploitative power imbalance, noting that the defendants utilized their positions of public office and financial resources to target vulnerable young women.
Gaetz, who currently hosts a talk show on One America News Network and serves on the board of Triumph Gulf Coast, also addressed the filing on the social platform X. He shared a 2018 photograph of three women in the Bahamas, writing, I’m shocked nobody responded to their repeated cries for help, posted to instagram.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
